Curtain fixture



De@ 20, 1932- w. c. KENNEY ET AL 1,891,881

CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed Nov. 18. 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 Invezzor' Dec- 20, 1932- W. c. KENNEY ET AL 1,891,881

CURTAIN FIXTURE( Filed' Nov. 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B31 orug/ Y Patented Dec. 20, 1932 erica WILLIAM C. KENNEY AND GEORGE M.

ASSIGNORS TO KENNEY MANUFACTURI A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND KETNEY, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, NG COMPANY, OF AUBURN, RHODE SLAN D,

CURTAIN FIXTURE Application filed November 18, 1932.

This invention relates to brackets for curtain, drapery, portire, traverse and like rods adapted to suspend a curtain. over the door, Window or other opening to be draped.

Such rods have been made in varying crosssections, beginning with the round rod of the early prior art, later modified to the familiar C-shaped rod still on the market, and now offered to the trade in U-shape form under the George M. Kenney patent of August 6, 1929, No. 1,723,975. Such rods have also been made either straight (for inside attachment between the inner faces of the door, window, or other casing), or with curved elbow ends (for outside attachment to the outer faces of such casing).

Each type of rod has required its own particular supporting bracket, and such brackets have taken various forms. Our invention i contemplates various forms but is especiallyy adapted to the U-shape to which we refer by way of illustration.

The rods in question as illustrated by those of U-shaped cross section have proven to involve an individual problem and require special centering, balance and support. Prior art suggestions are entirely incapable of use with such rod, for the reason that the novel cross-section of such rod introduces special problems of proportion not present in the older types of rod and hence not provided for by the brackets especially designed for use with such older rods.

To the end, therefore, of providing for the I first time in the art a bracket which can be interchangeably used with both right and left ends of a curtain rod, or the like, and with both inside and outside rods, and which bracket moreover is especially designed properly to'center, balance and support all such rods as the characteristic Kenney U-shaped rod, we have devised our present invention.

According to it, our bracket is not only capable of such interchangeable use but is so constructed and designed as to permit the rod to be engaged and disengaged with a straight line motion rather than requiring an initial tilting of the rod relativeto the bracket. as has been true of certain prior art brackets. At the same time it provides for the balanced Serial No. 575,820.

support of the rod on aconforming bearing surface which is at once broad, ample and stable, instead of relying upon the rather uncertain engagement of a slender hook or prong on the bracket with a narrow hole or slot in the rod to furnish such support, as heretofore in the art, with resultant liability to the rod to waddle on such hook or to disengage therefrom by accidental upward lifting movement.

In other words, our concept contemplates a bracket stably and reliably to support the rod at all times andunder alll conditions of use. Such brackets positively prevent inadvertent disengagement of the rod by accident-al lifting movement as well as any tendency of the rod to wabble or shift laterally, due to draft or vibration, and which tendency was not effectively met where the penctration of a prong or hook on the bracket through alined holes in the rod edges was depended upon to hold the rod securely to the bracket. y

In the accompanying drawings we illustrate a form of bracket which we have found especially satisfactoryv for use with the U- shaped rod. such bracket being also a form which is at once simple and convenient of installation and use and relatively inexpensive of manufacture.

In these drawings Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective of an inside telescopic rod of characteristic Kenney U-shape, although such rod need not, of course, be a telescopic rod, nor need it be an inside rod,` but may be an outside rod.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an installa-- tion consisting of one or more, here shown as two, inside rods, it being understood that the installation may however comprise any practicable number of rods, as one, two, or three. i

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a characteristic installation consisting of two outside rods.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rod supporting brackets shown in Figs. 2 or 3. removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalized showing of a rod and its'supporting brackets in installed position, and for the purposes of the View may be considered as being a longitudinal section through one of the rods and its brackets shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 7 7, of Fig. 6, and

Figs. 8 and 9 show brackets particularly' adapted for single and double installations of outside traverse rods.

Referring first to Fig. 1. We have illustrated a Kenney rod of U-shaped cross section presenting a` pair of lateral wallsil connected at their upper edges by a top wall 2 which may be arched aslshown Vand terminating at their lower edges in spaced inturned flanges 3, which at their points of bend away from the side walls 1 `are preferably'rounded as indicated at 4.

The Ushaped rodmay bea single length of rod ormay be made in telescopic sections A and B, either withor without the curvedv ends or elbows Cy in Fig. 3 and either with or without the interposed coupling members D (Fig. 3) of-corresponding'cross-section.

Similarly, one or more rods may bey used, as shown in Figs. Qand 8. In Fig. 2 the rod or rods are inside rods, being attached to the inner faces Ifbf the window, door or other casing frame F. In Fig. 3, the rod or rods are` outsiderods, being attached to the outer faces O of the framev F.

In any instance, and with any type of rod, the same attaching brackets may be used. Where niultiplerods are employed', the bases u 10 of the brackets carry a corresponding i trance of suitable attaching screws, the arched formation 12 enablingl the rodi end to clear the head of the upper attaching screw when the bracket is affixed in position.

The rod support indicated generally at 11- projects horizontally from said? base 1()v substantially centrally thereof. Such support Y includes a pair of` generally Ushaped formations 14 and 15 which together define an openwtopped double U-shaped cavity or recess of reversed contour to the Ushape of the rod for the receptionof thel rodjend as well as constituting means for preventing accidental vertical displacement andJ lateral wabbling of the-rod. l

The rod end is inserted into said cavity or recess from above with a simple straight line sliding movement, the formations 14 and 15 presenting centrally ofthe cavity or recess a centeringV and locking formation 16 which may conveniently be of pronglike character and which is adapted to be penetrated through an elongated slot 17 in the connecting wall 2 of the rod.

The free end of this prong may be split as at18 toaiford a pair of'springlocking lips 19 which are compressed by the inner faces of the flanges 3 when the slot 17 is alined with said prong and the rod pushed downover the same, and thereafter to springyapart to lock the rod, against` accidental` disengagement from the prong by upward vertical lifting'movement.

Structurally such recess and prong may be conveniently formedby two properly bent str ips of metal at each vertical edge of the 10. These are anchored in any suitable base manner, as by welding 'to even be integral therewith.

Each strip is itself lil-shape, presenting an outer wall indicated at 14 or 15' and an inner wall indicated at 14;" or l15', connected by a rounded bottom wallllia, 15a.. y

The inner wallsli, 15', abut each other internally of the double U-shaped recess or cavity thus provided, being extended above the upper horizontal edge of the formations.

14 and 15` as-the centering and locking' prong 16'.

The bracket is so-dimensioned and thel con struction is such that instead of relying upon' the prong 16 itself tro-carryr the weight ofthe rod and curtain, as heretofore in the art of pronged brackets, the-prong is simplya guide forthe rod inseating the same in the Ushaped` recessof'thebracket and aylocking device for the base, or' may preventing accidental disengagement thereof by upward lifting motionl- Instead, the rod bottoms on the bottom walls-14a, 15, as clearly shownin Fig. 7', therounded flanges 3 thereof resting lon and" the rounded surfaces of' being supportedby said recess walls. Thus, the entire weight of the rodand curtain is carried by the forma*- tion 14 and 15. Y

Moreover, the outer walls of'these formations restrain the rod against any tendencyv to wabble-laterally onl the prong 16, provid# ing a snugly conforming en circlement for substantially'the entire depthof the rod end, as best appears in Figs. 6 and 7.'

in height where a telescopic rod having an innersection A of smaller diameter andfan outer sectionl B of larger diameter is employed (see Fig; 1), andv thus to avoid any looseness'of lit regardless of which endE ofthe In theformcf Figs. 8'anvd 9, which` may be regarded Vas a modification forsingle ordonble outsiderods, the attachingfb'aselOfis pro- 1'1'5 In order tocompensate for any diderence'- vided with a right-angled extension l from which the rod engaging formation or formations l1 laterally project. The parts of the racket-s of Figs. 8 and 9 are duplicates of and interchangeable with those of the bracket of Fig. 4.

Various modifications in the construction and operation of our device may obviously be resorted 'to if Within the spirit and scope of our invention Without departing from the limits of the appended claims.

That We therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. A supportiwT iraclet for a U-shaped rod adapted interchangeably receive either the right or left end of the rod, comprising an attaching base, and a formation projecting therefrom and defining a U-sliaped receiving recess in which the rod is adapted to be entered from above, said formation having a guiding and locking prong over which the rod is adapted to be centered as it entered into said recess, said prong lying in a plane substantiallyv parallel the sides of the recess.

Q. A bracket as claimed in claim l, wherein the U-shaped receiving recess for the rod is constituted by pair of spaced strips exteiiding laterallyv from the base, each strip being of U-forin and together defining a double U.

3. A bracket claimed in claim l, wherein the free end of said prong is formed as a pair of yieldable locking lips adapted to be coinpressed by the rod as the rod is entered over said pro-ng and thereafter to return and lock the rod against .accidental disengagement from the prong by an upward lifting movenient.

4:. A supporting bracliet for a rod of deep vertical channel section adapted interchangeably to r ceii'e either the right or left end of the rod, comprisinc; an attaching base, and a formation projecting therefrom and deflning a receiving recess in which tl e rod is adapted to be entered f .m above, said forma.- tion having a guiding and locking prong over which the rod is adapted to be centered as it is entered into said recess, said prong lying in a plane substantially parallel With the sides of the recess.

5. A supporting bracket for a U-shaped rod, comprising an attaching base, and a formation projecting therefrom and delining a el-shaped receiving recess in which the rod is adapted to be entered from above, said receiving recess bein.` constituted by a pair of spaced strips extendi laterally from the base, each strip being of Ll form and together defining a. double U, yhe inner Walls of said U- shaped Strips bein brought substantially together to form guiding locking prong over which the rod is adapted to be centered as it is entered into said recess, said prong lying in a plane substantially parallel With the sides of the recess.

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, Wherein the outer Walls of said strips constitute a closely conforming encirclemeiit of the'rod and restrain it against lateral play in either direction Within the recess.

7. In a curtain or drapery fixture, the combination with a U-sha-ped rod, of a supporting bracket having a U-form recess of reversed arrangement to the U of the rod whereby the rod may be inserted into and removed from said recess by simple straight linevmovement anda centering and locking prong disposed substantially centrally of said recess and adapted for penetrative engagement With said rod, said prong lying in a plane substantially parallel with the sides of the recess.

8. A supporting bracket for a rod of deep vertical channel section, said bracket including a projection shaped to define an ope-n top, closed bottom recess of reversed channel section-to the channel section of the rod itself whereby the rod may be inserted into and removed from said recess by vsimple straight line movement from above, and said receiving recess being constituted by a pair of spaced curved strips, the inner Walls of said strips being brought together to form a guiding and locking prong over which the rod is adapted to be centered as it is entered into said recess from above, and the outer Walls of said strips constituting a closely conforming encirclement of the rod effective to restrain the rod against lateral play in either direction Within said recess, said prong lying in a plane substantially parallel With the sides of the recess.

v9. Abracket as claimed in claim 8, Wherein the free 'end of' said prong is formed as a pair of yieldable locking lips adapted to be compressed by the rod as the rod is entered over said prong and thereafter to return and lock the rod against Yaccidental disengagement from the prong by anupWard lifting movement.

10. A supporting bracket vfor a rod of deep vertical channel section, comprising an attaching base and a formation projecting therefrom and defining a recess of reverse channel section to the channel section of the rod itself, saidvrecess being open at its top and closed at its bottom whereby the rod may be inserted thereinto and removed therefrom by a simple straight line entering or Withdrawing movement., the outer Walls of said recess constituting a closely confining encirclement of the rod effective to restrain the rod against lateral play in either direction Within said recess, and said formation having a vertically disposed centering and spring locking prong adapted for penetrative engagement with said rod as it is entered into said recess from above and effective to lock the rod Within the recess against accidental dislodgement therefrom by a straight linel upward lifting movement, Said Prong 1y ing ina plane substantially parallel with the sides .of the recess.

. 11. A bracket as claimed in claim l() wherein the recess is of generally W-'shape and the i5 locking prong is constituted by the middle leg ofthe W.

c 12. A supporting bracket for a UShaped rod adapted interchangeably to receive either the right or left end of the rod, including a 1D formation of generally W-shape ,definingv an open top, closed bottom recess within which the rod is adapted to be inserted from above by simple strai ht line entering movement, said formation aving a vertically disposed 15 centering and spring looking lprong adapted for penetrative .engagement with ,Said rod as it isentered into said recess from above and e'ective to lock the rod against accidental dislodgement therefrom a straight line n upward lifting movement.,said prong lying in a plane substantially parallel with the. sides of the recess. f

13. A supporting bracketfor a rod comprsing an attaching base and-a formation 26 projecting therefrom and defining an open top closed bottom recess into which the rod may be inserted and removed by a simple straight line entering or withdrawing movement from above, :said formation having a 3Q guiding and .locking prong over which the rod is adapted to be centered asy it is entered into :said recess, said pronglying in a plane substantially parallel with the sides-:of the recess and, terminating at its free endcin va u compressible locking projection adapted to be engaged by the rod as the rod is entered over said prong ,and eectve to lock the rod against accidental disengagement from the upward lifting movement.

n 14. A .supporting bracket as claimed in claim 13, whereinthe prong is included Within the walls ofsai-d recess and extends vertically of the recess substantially centrally thereof.

45 In testimony whereof We ax our signatures.A v c WILLIAM C. KENNEY. GEORGE M. KENNEY. 

